Theresa Neuhoff Audia: Advice to recent high school graduates

This summer, I will be attending my 25-year reunion from Lorain Catholic High School.
I am having a hard time accepting it because I still feel as if I am 23 and just graduating from John Carroll University.
To think I am two decades older than 23 and closing in on middle age is a real shocker.
I still remember buying my first car when I turned 16. It was a 1977 orange Ford Mustang with white leather interior. I paid $750 cash for it with the money I earned while life guarding at the Vermilion YMCA.
Prior to buying the car, orange was not one of my favorite colors. Once I bought it, I embraced the bright hue and to this day itís still my favorite color. The radio I had installed was the most expensive item in the car. But it was a necessity to blare good music ó particularly Def Leppard, AC/DC or the Beastie Boys ó while my friends and I drove aimlessly around on Friday and Saturday nights.
Life was simpler when I was growing up.
I did not have a computer, cell phone, Twitter or Facebook accounts (thank God). If you wanted to call someone, you either had to use a land line at your house or find a pay phone and put a quarter in it. If you needed to write a report for school, you had to use a typewriter. If you made a mistake, you corrected it with Liquid Paper.
Life is so much more complicated today.
We are in constant communication with one another. Nothing seems to be sacred. If you are having a bad day, you post it on Facebook. If you need a companion, you put your profile on the Internet.
Itís overwhelming at times to juggle so much at once.
When I graduated, I wish someone would have given me the following advice on how to better prepare for the next 25 years of my life:
* Take chances. It is better to try and fail than never try at all.
* Be nicer to people. Everyone is dealing with something. Give people the benefit of the doubt.
* Work harder. When you are younger, you have plenty of energy to hold more than one job. Work a few.
*† Do not get in debt. Pay off all of your bills. Do not spend more than you make.
* Work out. You only have one body. Take care of it.
* Donít follow. Be a leader. Speak up for what is right.
* Spend more time with your family. They love you unconditionally.
* Spend less time worrying about what other people think about you.
* Do not doubt yourself. Be confident.
* Appreciate the small things.
* Love. Bottom line. Love yourself, your friends, your family, what you do, where you live. Love it all.
As a disclaimer, I know this column ages me, but I donít care.
To all of the recent high school graduates: you are in the prime years of your life. What you are doing now is molding who you will be in the future. As you head off to college or into the work force, remember that you are now responsible for your own life. Make good choices. Do the right thing. Push yourself and you will be successful, but not always.
At times, youíll have more bad days than good. You will face obstacles that knock you down. But you can find strength to get back up. Most importantly, if you know in your heart you always try your best, thatís all that matters.
If you can say that without hesitation, you can live with no regrets.
TAudia@News-Herald.com

About the Author

Theresa spent the first 20 years of her newspaper career as a sports reporter. The Vermilion native graduated from Lorain Catholic High School and John Carroll University. She enjoys running, gardening and traveling. Top vacation spots have included Haiti, Italy, Spain and Turks and Caicos. Keep up with her thrifting adventures at whynotthrift.blogspot.com. Reach the author at tneuhoff@news-herald.com
or follow Theresa on Twitter: @Theresa_Neuhoff.